going to arashiyama on 5th Oct
planned to take the sagano scenic train from kameoka station arashiyama station instead(downward)

found out that period(1st oct to 7th oct) is a china national day holiday

want to ask, need to pre-purchase ticket for that particular train ride or able to purchase on site?
based on their website, seem like tickets of downward is more famous than upward

i don't plan whole day in arashiyama
my plan is actually to take JR from kyoto station to umahori station thn from scenic train from kameoka station to arashiyama station
after done with arashiyama thn take the bus from arashiyama to kinkakuji

but from their website, the downward is more famous than upward...the earliest 9.30AM train often labelled "X" which is sold out
because if need to pre-purchase, i might skip the scenic train completely because no time in my schedule to pick up
since i will be doing it on my 3rd day in JP and the office only opens from 10AM-6PM

Huh... can scalp in Japan? Most of the tickets require names on the tickets. So unless Romantic train tickets doesn't require name when purchasing then there is a possibility.

Hey everyone, I am going to Osaka in October. Still quite conflicted on which train to take from Kansai Airport (KIX) to Osaka.

There are 2 main choices now:
1) ICOCA/Haruka package costing = 4600yen round trip (inclusive of 2000yen ICOCA purchase)
2) Nankai Airport Express costing =  3840 yen = 1840 round trip (920 one way) + 2000yen ICOCA

Is there any reason to use ICOCA/Haruka package when Nankai Airport Express costs less? I am planning to use ICOCA to travel around Osaka (and USJ), Kyoto and Nara only.

Also, is RM 3,000 for expense enough in Osaka? Exclude accommodation and USJ ticket since they are already paid for before the trip.

Yeah, most likely I will. I Googled and it has schedule until September only, will see if it will be updated later.

Since this is my first time to Kyushu and based on RC's suggestion to buy JR Sanyo-San-in Northern Kyushu 7 Day Pass, so looks like I will cover only Northern area this round, does this schedule make any sense? We actually dislike dragging luggage around and changing hotel every 1-2 days once, need your advice and comment as we need to book our accommodation. Willing to let go some places but major ones like Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Beppu should be included?

Day 1: Osaka - Fukuoka
Day 2: Fukuoka - Nagasaki
Day 3: Nagasaki
Day 4: Nagasaki - Kumamoto - Mt. Aso (can skip this if we can't figure out the transportation as no intention to drive in Japan) - Beppu
Day 5: Beppu and Yufuin for Onsen.
Day 6: Beppu - Kitakyushu - Fukuoka
Day 7: Fukuoka - Kyoto

In addition to the above schedule advice, can somebody help me with these questions?
1) Can we travel straight from Nagasaki to Kumamoto using this JR Pass? Or no matter what I will need to go back to Hakata and travel from Hakata?

2) Can I travel back to Kyoto (Station) from Fukuoka using this JR pass? Or it has to be Osaka? Or cannot travel back to Kansai at all?

Thanks.

Thanks for sharing yours, it gives me some idea. So am I right to say you will only stay at Fukuoka and Nagasaki? The reason why I think of putting two nights in Beppu is for onsen only.

1) Appreciate it. Apparently there's a train that runs from Nagasaki to Kumamoto via Tosu https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/ShowTopic-g2...ure_Kyushu.html, then I can utilize the JR pass.

2) For the JR pass I'm getting covers Nozomi I think: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/ssnk/ and based on your link it goes directly to Kyoto Station. If any transfer is also fine with us.

Yeah, I'm surprised to see it covers Nozomi.

Anyway, if I want to book Shinkansen rides with JR Pass, I can only do it in the JR centre right? Looks like gotta spend some time there when we are in Osaka. Prefer to reserve seats and hope to get seats in Hello Kitty Shinkansen. Is there any way I can book Shinkansen rides online? Last time when I travelled from Tokyo to Osaka, I just bought the ticket separately in Shinjuku as I didn't buy any JR Pass that time.

going japan with ANA this autumn. 12 days.

1. landing at Narita. what cheap transportation to go to Tokyo area?

2. is it worthy to skip kansai area and explore Tokyo only for 12 days? which area you recommend to explore Tokyo area?

3. is it worthy to skip USJ, Disneyland and DISNEYSEA??my son only 1 year old.

4. any free entrance area you recommend? I rike sightseeing like to watch leaves fall in the park etc.

sorry I am noob never go Japan before. dunno where to start. their transportation system look like very complicated.

I think it's not real ryokan, one of the authentic ones costs RM 2k/night (the one we wanted ), the rest cheaper around 1k per night is fine with us but shared bathroom which I don't like. So chose this instead, has private bathroom and onsen.

Hope I will not give up visiting Japan again.
I kinda regret to issued ticket for 12 days. maybe 7 days is enough if Tokyo alone. is 12 days in tokyo kinda boring?

For me 12 days for Tokyo is a lot, my last trip few years ago I split 12 days for Tokyo + Kansai.
This round will be Kansai + Kyushu for 14 days.
Maybe I need to rephrase, not the natural onsen, just hot tub I think but at least it's ours and not sharing with anyone. But the onsen outside is very near to hotel, so can drop by if we want.

Maybe I need to rephrase, not the natural onsen, just hot tub I think but at least it's ours and not sharing with anyone. But the onsen outside is very near to hotel, so can drop by if we want.

mind share why u say kansai is very fun? eg which part and what activity? Wanna learn some knowledge currently planning trip to kansai, some said osaka 2 days enough some said need 3 days. I have 10 days to spend

3k to cover osaka, kyoto, Tokyo, Kawaguchigo possible for 12 days? use tokyo subway pass and kyoto bus pass. I am with my wife so hotel cost can be shared.

but moi friend said autumn is like in Malaysia where the leaves fall. many dust and wind no good for health. true meh?

found a English Source to you

After its introduction at Haneda airport, the system will then be deployed at Narita airport on Aug. 27, at Kansai International Airport on Sept. 25, and later at Fukuoka Airport on Oct. 8, Chubu and New Chitose airports in November and at Naha Airport next July.

sorry, my mistake, still can't find any English source for that
but a lot of Chinese source about that in google

Future will be like our Malaysia Passport fast track computer scanner.
Just slot in Passport and scan fingerprint...then u are Pass.
NO more stamping Cop.

In or Out Japan will be same like our Malaysia computerize system. 
Super fast and efficiency

Malaysia one only for Malaysian, while Japan will be open for all people. Japanese + Foreigners. One Step ahead.
Since computerise, entry Japan form will no longer needed. So future no need bring pens and write on aircraft.

Yeah, leaving the country only. Form still needs to be filled in.

what's the point of going japan if just stroll around hotel and Tokyo area? Tokyo subway per 3 days 2000 yen already. nothing much in Tokyo.
my fav place khaosan world namba osaka. Less than 75 ringgit per night. twin room 150 ringgit. good location